{"id":325040,"date":"2025-11-11T17:56:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T22:56:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/?page_id=94998"},"modified":"2025-11-11T17:56:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T22:56:09","slug":"netzero-4g-mobile-broadband-review","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/utilities\/internet\/netzero-4g-mobile-broadband-review\/","title":{"rendered":"NetZero 4G Mobile Broadband Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n <\/span>\n \n\n\n

NetZero is a legacy U.S. internet brand best known for dial\u2011up access and email. As of 2025, NetZero does not sell 4G\/LTE mobile broadband or hotspot plans; its consumer lineup centers on dial\u2011up (including a free 10\u2011hours\/month tier) and limited DSL via partner networks, with no active 4G\/mobile product pages on its official site or in major provider directories (NetZero<\/a>; BroadbandNow<\/a>; Allconnect<\/a>). Historically, \u201cNetZero Mobile Broadband\u201d launched on Clearwire\/Sprint\u2019s WiMAX network in 2012 and effectively ended when WiMAX was shut down in 2015 (PCMag<\/a>; PCWorld<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n \n

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Pros <\/p>\n

Free plan available<\/span><\/p>\n

Option to bring your own device<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

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Cons <\/p>\n

Free plan requires hotspot purchase<\/span><\/p>\n

Monthly data caps at 8 GB<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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Return to top\n Return to top arrow\n <\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n \n\n\n <\/span>\n \n\n\n

NetZero Dial\u2011Up Plans, Pricing, and Modern Alternatives<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Plan<\/strong><\/td>Price<\/strong><\/td>Monthly Data<\/strong><\/td>Connection Type<\/strong><\/td>Best for<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Free Dial\u2011Up<\/strong> (10 hours\/month)<\/td>$0<\/td>10 hours\/month<\/td>Dial\u2011up internet<\/td>Email and basic, occasional browsing (NetZero Dial\u2011Up<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr>
HiSpeed (Accelerated) Dial\u2011Up<\/strong><\/td>Varies; see site<\/td>Unlimited access (compression\/optimization)<\/td>Dial\u2011up (accelerated proxy)<\/td>Light browsing and email; not for streaming (NetZero Dial\u2011Up<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr>
Unlimited Dial\u2011Up<\/strong><\/td>Varies; see site<\/td>Unlimited access<\/td>Dial\u2011up internet<\/td>Single user doing basic tasks (NetZero Dial\u2011Up<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr>
DSL (where available)<\/strong><\/td>Varies by location<\/td>Varies by partner<\/td>DSL via partner networks<\/td>Basic web tasks; limited availability (BroadbandNow<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr>
5G Home Internet (alternatives)<\/strong> \u2014 T\u2011Mobile, Verizon, AT&T Internet Air<\/td>Typically ~$50\u2013$60\/mo<\/td>Varies by provider<\/td>5G fixed wireless<\/td>General home use; self\u2011install (T\u2011Mobile Home Internet<\/a>; Verizon 5G Home<\/a>; AT&T Internet Air<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

* Data current as of 2025. NetZero does not market 4G\/mobile broadband plans; current access options focus on dial\u2011up and limited DSL (NetZero<\/a>; Allconnect<\/a>).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For current NetZero dial\u2011up options and availability, click here<\/a> to learn more from our partner site, Allconnect. You can also verify directly on NetZero\u2019s official site<\/a> and directories like BroadbandNow<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Estimated Speeds<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

NetZero\u2019s access service today is dial\u2011up over a standard phone line, which operates at up to 56 kbps (0.056 Mbps). \u201cAccelerated\u201d dial\u2011up reduces page sizes via compression but does not change the underlying line rate (NetZero Dial\u2011Up<\/a>). By comparison, current fixed\u2011wireless and fiber options advertise far higher speeds: Verizon 5G Home<\/a> lists typical downloads around 85\u2013300 Mbps (5G Home) and about 300\u20131,000 Mbps (5G Home Plus), while AT&T Internet Air<\/a> cites roughly 75\u2013225 Mbps typical downloads; fiber tiers from Verizon Fios<\/a> and AT&T Fiber<\/a> commonly range from 300 Mbps to multi\u2011gigabit. That\u2019s thousands to tens of thousands of times faster than 56 kbps, depending on the tier. T\u2011Mobile Home Internet<\/a> is another major 5G fixed\u2011wireless alternative with address\u2011based availability and pricing typically around $50\/month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NetZero Hotspot<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

NetZero no longer sells a mobile hotspot or 4G data plans. The \u201cNetZero 4G Hotspot\u201d many recall was a WiMAX\u2011based device introduced in 2012 and became obsolete after the underlying network was shut down in 2015 (PCMag review<\/a>; WiMAX shutdown<\/a>). If you need a hotspot today, consider current 5G models from national carriers, such as AT&T\u2019s Netgear Nighthawk M6 Pro<\/a>, T\u2011Mobile\u2019s Inseego MiFi X Pro 5G<\/a>, or Verizon\u2019s Orbic Speed 5G UW<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pricing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

NetZero\u2019s current entry option is Free Dial\u2011Up<\/a> (10 hours\/month at $0). Paid dial\u2011up tiers, including \u201cHiSpeed\u201d (accelerated) and unlimited dial\u2011up, are available with pricing shown at sign\u2011up and vary by location. For broadband\u2011class speeds, look to alternatives typically priced around $50\u2013$60\/month such as T\u2011Mobile Home Internet<\/a>, Verizon 5G Home Internet<\/a>, or AT&T Internet Air<\/a>; fiber tiers from AT&T<\/a> and others offer higher performance where available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who is each plan best for?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Free Dial\u2011Up (10 hours)<\/strong><\/td>Best for one person, occasional email\/basic sites; no streaming or video calls<\/td><\/tr>
HiSpeed\/Unlimited Dial\u2011Up<\/strong><\/td>Best for one person needing regular email and light browsing; acceleration compresses pages but doesn\u2019t raise 56 kbps line speed (NetZero Dial\u2011Up<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr>
DSL (where available)<\/strong><\/td>Best for basic tasks for one user or small household; availability and performance vary by line quality (BroadbandNow<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr>
5G Home Internet (alternatives)<\/strong><\/td>Best for general home use with typical speeds in the tens to hundreds of Mbps, depending on address (Verizon<\/a>; AT&T Internet Air<\/a>; T\u2011Mobile<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr>
Fiber (alternatives)<\/strong><\/td>Best for heavy use (multi\u2011device streaming, gaming, video conferencing); common tiers 300 Mbps to multi\u2011gigabit (Verizon Fios<\/a>; AT&T Fiber<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Internet Availability<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There is no active NetZero 4G\/mobile broadband footprint in 2025. NetZero\u2019s primary access service is dial\u2011up, which works where you have a phone line and a local access number; any DSL is location\u2011dependent. Check current options on the website<\/a> and cross\u2011reference directories like BroadbandNow<\/a> or Allconnect<\/a>. The historical \u201cNetZero 4G\u201d offering ended after Sprint\/Clearwire\u2019s WiMAX network shutdown in 2015 (Ars Technica<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/span>\n \n\n\n

Other Factors to Consider<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

NetZero\u2019s dial\u2011up plans are simple to start or stop and require a compatible phone line and 56k modem; there is no current NetZero mobile hotspot or 4G service (NetZero Dial\u2011Up<\/a>). If you need broadband speeds, compare modern fiber and 5G fixed\u2011wireless options at your address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch for fees and disclosures when evaluating alternatives. The FCC\u2019s standardized Broadband Consumer Labels<\/a> became mandatory in 2024 and must clearly show the full monthly price, common fees (e.g., equipment, activation, data caps), promotional terms, and contract length. California\u2019s all\u2011in pricing law (SB 478<\/a>) also requires advertised prices to include mandatory fees. For video providers, the FCC banned early termination fees in 2024 and requires prorated credits\/refunds on cancellation (FCC video \u201cjunk fees\u201d rules<\/a>). Use these disclosures to compare providers like AT&T, Verizon, and T\u2011Mobile alongside any local options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/span>\n \n\n\n

NetZero vs. Other Providers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
 <\/td>Starting Price<\/strong><\/td>Availability<\/strong><\/td>Download Speeds<\/strong><\/td>Connection<\/strong><\/td>Contract<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
NetZero<\/strong><\/td>$0 (Free Dial\u2011Up)<\/td>Nationwide dial\u2011up (phone line + local access number)<\/td>Up to 56 kbps<\/td>Dial\u2011up internet<\/td>None<\/td><\/tr>
AT&T<\/strong><\/td>Internet Air typically mid\u2011$50s; Fiber varies by tier<\/td>Address\u2011dependent<\/td>Internet Air: ~75\u2013225 Mbps (typical); Fiber: 300 Mbps\u20135 GIG<\/td>5G fixed wireless; Fiber<\/td>None required <\/td><\/tr>
FreedomPop<\/a><\/strong><\/td>$0 (Free eSIM plan)<\/td>Nationwide (device\/eSIM and host network coverage)<\/td>Very small monthly allotment; speeds vary by host network<\/td>Mobile plan (eSIM)<\/td>None<\/td><\/tr>
Verizon Wireless<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Typically $50\u2013$60 standalone (5G Home)<\/td>Address\u2011dependent<\/td>5G Home: ~85\u2013300 Mbps; 5G Home Plus: ~300\u20131,000 Mbps; Fios fiber up to 2 Gig<\/td>5G fixed wireless; Fiber (Fios) in select areas<\/td>None required<\/td><\/tr>
T\u2011Mobile Home Internet<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Typically ~$50\/month<\/td>Address\u2011dependent<\/td>Varies by address and network capacity<\/td>5G fixed wireless<\/td>None required<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf  \tThe Best Internet Service Providers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf  \tVerizon Fios Review<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf  Frontier Internet Review<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf  AT&T Internet Review<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NetZero is a legacy U.S. internet brand best known for dial\u2011up access and email. As of 2025, NetZero does not sell 4G\/LTE mobile broadband or hotspot plans; its consumer lineup centers on dial\u2011up (including a free 10\u2011hours\/month tier) and limited DSL via partner networks, with no active 4G\/mobile product pages on its official site or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":345,"featured_media":343825,"parent":2266,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/template-reviews.php","meta":[],"categories":[21563],"tags":[],"post_author":[],"yoast_head":"\nNetZero 4G Review 2021 | Reviews.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"NetZero offers a variety of 4G mobile plans and no long-term contracts so that it is flexible and portable enough to go with you anywhere.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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